Serkan Saydam received his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Mining Engineering from the Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkiye and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He then worked at De Beers for three years as a project manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Serkan joined the School of Mining Engineering as a Senior Lecturer in 2006, and since 2017, he has been working as a...view more
Serkan Saydam received his BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Mining Engineering from the Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkiye and completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He then worked at De Beers for three years as a project manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. Serkan joined the School of Mining Engineering as a Senior Lecturer in 2006, and since 2017, he has been working as a professor. He is currently Chair of Mining Engineering at the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW.
A key focus of his research is to address the minerals industry's current needs and future challenges. These are generally complex engineering problems as mining environments become more extreme and constraints are imposed due to increasing social, environmental, and health and safety standards. His research fields include space resources engineering, ground control, mining systems and mine design, mine Internet of things, and technology integration and management. He established research collaborations with more than 50 research organisations and universities globally.
Prof Saydam has more than 250 publications and graduated with 20 PhD students. Serkan attracted more than $15M in research grants and is known for founding and chairing the AusIMM’s International Future Mining Conference Series and co-chairs AusIMM’s AusRock Conference Series and Off-Earth Mining Forums.
Professor Saydam received multiple academic awards, including the 2020 UNSW Dean’s Award for Global Impact, the 2019 UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Postgraduate Research Supervision Award and the 2017 Society of Mining Professors’ International Tim Shaw Innovation in Teaching Award.
Serkan is currently a Fellow Member of the AusIMM, President of the ISRM Commission on Planetary Rock Mechanics, Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER) at UNSW, and the Deputy Secretary-General and Council Member of the SOMP (The Society of Mining Professors). Prof Saydam also served as the President for 2023/2024 of the SOMP.
My Grants
- DeepIoT – A New Hybrid Wireless IoT Platform for Underground Mines. D Forshaw, B Li, S Saydam. 2020-2022. Cooperative Research Centres Projects Round 8. CRCPEIGHT000094.
- Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. S Saydam, H Lamei Ramandi, N Kumar, M Manefield, A Crosky, I Canbulat, Scott Rice. 2020-2022. ARC Linkage Projects.
- Effectiveness of Shotcrete in Underground Coal Mines. ACARP. J OH, I Canbulat, S Saydam, HL Ramandi.
- Prevention techniques for stress corrosion cracking failures of rock and cable bolts. J Oh, H Lamei Ramandi, I Canbulat, S Saydam. Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) 2020-2021.
- A Cost-Effective Communication Mechanism for Underground Mine IoT. Li, Hu (CUMT), Saydam, Wang (CUMT). Global Connections Fund Bridging Grant. 2018-2019
- Management of Coal Burst Research. Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) I Canbulat, B Hebblewhite, J Galvin, S Saydam, P Hagan. 2017-2018
- Floor Stability – A comprehensive investigation into failure mechanisms and controlling factors. Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) S Saydam, I Canbulat, H Masoumi, B Hebblewhite, W Timms. 2017-2019
- Network Lab: Tyree Micro-Ct Network Laboratory: UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme (RIS). UNSW Grant number RG163084. A Russell, D Cohen, R Bonduriansky, S Saydam, T Barber, C Marjo, F Hussain, G Pearce, I Graham, P Mostaghimi, R Nordon, R Armstrong, W Timms, C Arns, E Ambikairajah, G Cassis, G Yeoh, K Regenauer-Lieb, M Van Kranendonk, M Knothe Tate, M Archer, N Khalili, S Rahman, S Foster, S Hand, D Waite, R Amal, 01 Jan 2017.
- Comprehensive Modelling for Off-Earth Mining Optimization and Resource Processing STTR. The US Government research grant with Ascentech, Virginia Tech and NASA KSC. L Sibille, S Saydam, M Karmis. 2017
- Stage 1: Review of Australian and International Coal Burst Experience and Control Technologies - Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP). I Canbulat, S Saydam, C Zhang, B Hebblewhite.
- Scoping of ACARP’s Coal Burst Project - Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) 2016. I Canbulat, S Saydam, C Zhang, B Hebblewhite.
- Third Generation of Positioning System for Underground Mine Environments: ARC Linkage Project– 2015.
- NASA- JPL: AN INTEGRATED ECONOMICS MODEL FOR ISRU IN SUPPORT OF
A MARS COLONY Economic Research for Space Development, Emerging Space Office. 2015.
- 2015 Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Scheme (MREII) Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. F Suorineni, S Saydam.
- Gas Control and Management using Thin Spray-on Liners for Underground Coal Mines. BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal Appin West Mine Research Project. S Saydam, D Chalmers.
- Determination of cable bolt performance under axial loading and subject to varying geotechnical conditions. Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) 2014. P Hagan, S Saydam.
- Avoiding Catastrophic Failure of Cable Bolts in Underground Coal Mines: ARC Linkage Project (Phase 2) – July 2014.
- Optimising the Selection of Fully Grouted Cable bolts in Varying Geotechnical Environments - Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) 2013. P Hagan, S Saydam.
- Avoiding Catastrophic Failure of Rock Bolts in Underground Coal Mines: ARC Linkage Project, July 2010-2014.
- ViMINE – An Innovative Interactive Learning System Approach to Mining Engineering Education: UNSW Faculty of Engineering Learning and Teaching (FRLT) Grant - Strategic Learning and Teaching Development Fund (SLTDF), September 2010 – ongoing (As Chief Investigator).
- The Development of Virtual Reality Tools for Mining Engineering: UNSW Faculty of Engineering Learning and Teaching (FRLT) Grant - Strategic Learning and Teaching Development Fund (SLTDF), January 2010 (As Chief Investigator).
- Investigation of the Potential Use of Thin Spray-on Liners for Gas Management in Underground Coal Mines: UNSW Faculty of Engineering Early Career Research Grant, January – December 2009 (As Chief Investigator – CI1)
- Investigation of Support Mechanism of Thin Spray-on Liners: UNSW Faculty Early Career Research Grant, January – December 2007 (As Chief Investigator – CI1).
- Wireless Sensor Networks for Remote Monitoring of Underground Mines: UNSW Faculty Research Grant, January – December 2007 (As Associate Investigator).
My Qualifications
- PhD (Mining Engineering), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, December 2000
- MSc (Mining Engineering), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, June 1995
- BSc (Mining Engineering), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, July 1992
My Awards
- Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2002) – 12-month postdoctoral fellowship at the School of Mining Engineering, The University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002-2003.
- 2019 Postgraduate Research Supervision Award. UNSW.
- 2017 Tim Shaw Teaching Award Nomination, SOMP.
- 2013 AaEe - Department of Industry Award for Industry Engagement in Engineering Education to MEA.
- 2012 Lecturer of The Year – Mining Society.
- 2010 Australian Learning and Teaching Council Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning - Educational Partnerships and Collaborations with Other Organisations to Mining Education Australia.
- 2008 MEA Award for Staff Excellence in Teaching and Innovation – Presented to the Resource Estimation Course Team.
- 2008 Teaching Staff Excellence Award – MEA – UNSW Academic Team School of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering UNSW, Dated 18 December 2008.
My Research Activities
Developing high-capacity dynamic rock reinforcement for underground mines. P Roberts, P Criag, S Saydam, C Zhang, J Oh. Jennmar Australia Pty Ltd / DIIS - Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P's) Shared Grant.
DeepIoT – A New Hybrid Wireless IoT Platform for Underground Mines. D Forshaw, B Li, S Saydam. Cooperative Research Centres Projects Round 8. CRCPEIGHT000094.
Microbiologically Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking in Underground Mines. S Saydam, H Lamei Ramandi, N Kumar, M Manefield, A Crosky, I Canbulat, Scott Rice. ARC Linkage Projects.
Effectiveness of Shotcrete in Underground Coal Mines. ACARP. J Oh, I Canbulat, S Saydam, HL Ramandi.
Vibration Energy Harvesting for Self Powered Sensors at Mine Sites. ACARP. B Li, S Saydam, B hebblewhite.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6686-0770
